He takes a step toward me, and I feel the wall against my back just before I feel his hips pinning me down.
“I’ll stop coming after you when I believe you. Until those eyes stop wanting me, I’m going to be relentless in every possible way,” he smolders out, and then the back of his hand slides down my cheek until he tilts my head up to force my eyes into his once again.
His lips move to be almost on mine, and then the chuckling sound of students draws our attention.
“Let’s get to work,” I shudder out, and then I slip out of his grasp when the moment is iced.
Fuck. Day one is starting out with the promise of failure.
Why can’t I get him out of my mind? Brazen and I don’t have that drive-you-mad passion, but what we have is incredible. I can’t sacrifice it to be with someone I had insanely hot sex with. I loved Hale with everything in me, and it took me a year to pick up the pieces of that devastating breakup. I’d still be struggling if it hadn’t been for my full blood.
Brazen was my savior in a time when I needed saving the most. He showed me how different love could be. There doesn’t have to be so much push and pull. There’s not a closet packed full of lies and broken promises. He’s always there when I need him, and he never stops reminding me how much he loves me.
“Good morning,” Hale chirps when he walks into the class full of eager newbies.
“Good morning, Captain Banner,” they answer in unison.
I stare out at the gallant training facility in front of us, and the enormous circle drawn out in red on the concrete floor gives me a shiver as the adrenaline pumps through me.
“As you all learned yesterday, your gifts are to be used only when there aren’t any options left. Today, you’ll learn how to go head to head with your adversary because that’s how most fights are won,” Hale says with sexy authority, and I turn to smirk at him as he struts toward me.
“If your assailant has a gift, then you push them to find out how strong it is. If your assailant doesn’t have a gift, get ready to kick their ass,” he says with his badass tone.
Oh damn.
“So, who would like to go first?” Hale asks, but no one is willing to step forward to join me in the ring.
Hale smirks at a smug guy standing on the end with more muscle than brain, and then he deliberately eases over to him.
“I think you should show us how you would take down Ms. Crush,” Hale dares, and the guy lets out a bit of a laugh.
“Something funny?” Hale asks.
“I can’t fight a girl,” the Neanderthal scoffs.
“You’re probably right. I doubt there will be much of a fight,” Hale murmurs very misleadingly. He offers me a secretive wink before adding, “But this wasn’t a request. When a captain tells you to do something, your reply should begin with ‘yes’ and end with ‘Sir,’ understood?” he admonishes, and then he has to stifle his grin when the brooding beast of a man nods vigorously before snapping into a salute.
“Y…yes, Sir,” he stammers out.
“Good. Now, stop making Ms. Crush wait,” Hale scolds with a playful air, and the newbie stumbles into the concrete circle to do as instructed.
“Whenever you’re ready, big boy,” I taunt, and the guy charges me with timid hesitance weighing him down.
I trip him up almost too easily, and then I slam his head down to crack the concrete once he’s in the process of falling. He shakes it off, and then leaps to his feet a little less hesitant about fighting a girl. He charges me again, and I grab him by the throat before whirling him out of the ring. He slams into the wall across the room, and he crumbles to the floor like a humbled, limp rag when he realizes his foolish assumption has proven to be his downfall.
“Does anyone know what lesson we just learned?” Hale says with a menacing and adoring smirk while staring directly into my eyes.
“Never underestimate your opponent, Sir,” one eager newbie barks.
“Exactly. Now who wants to see Ms. Crush and me show you how a real fight should look?” he smolders out, and it’s all I can do not to let my knees falter.
They all have to stifle again as he blurs across the room to me. He grabs me at the waist before I realize the fight is underway, and then I feel the wall cracking behind my back when his body forces me into it.
“The attacker has to stay inside the ring,” I caution, and his breath pours into my mouth from his dangerously close proximity.
“It’s been a while. I must have forgotten,” he says with blistering heat, and our heated touch is enough to bring me into a head rush.
“Let me remind you,” I seduce, and then I shove him off me while slamming him into the floor.
